(Arnolds Park)– The Arnolds Park city council Wednesday approved contract renewals for solid waste disposal and recycling pick-up. Each is for five years with a three-year opt out clause. The solid waste agreement with Town and Country Disposal includes a four percent increase while the increase in the agreement with Shamrock Recycling is based on the Consumer Price Index. The present contracts expire this coming April.
In other business, the council discussed fire protection for Center Grove Township. The council previously voted to discontinue the service siting displeasure over the Bridge’s Bay development. The service is currently scheduled to end July 1st. However the city’s stance has softened somewhat now that language in a developer’s agreement has been changed allowing the development to be eventually annexed into the city. Developers have indeed requested voluntary annexation, and the process is expected to get underway soon. Meanwhile, it was the concensus of the Arnolds Park city council Wednesday to look into possibly granting an extension of the current fire protection agreement with Center Grove Township until a long-term agreement can be negotiated. The city of Okoboji will also be involved in those talks because of the merged fire departments. And Fire Chief Chris Youngbluth requested any extension be contingent on plans for any new large developments or condominium projects be reviewed first by himself and City Administrator Ron Walker. Council members indicated they’d be in favor of a one-year extension with that stipulation.
The council also approved the purchase of a new police car. The bid of 23,238-dollars for a Ford Expedition was awarded to Motor Inn of Spirit Lake. It includes a trade of 700-dollars. The new vehicle will be used by the department’s K-9 Unit and will be retrofitted so it will also be able to transport prisoners.
They also decided to enter negotiations with the city of Okoboji to purchase a 2002 police car. It would replace another vehicle in the city’s police fleet that would be donated to the Fire Department.
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